no news update!

Another good week - hence, no real news to update.  I spent a couple days playing golf and a couple days trimming shrubs - I think I was able to stretch a day of yard work into at least three days.  I'm finishing week #3 of chemo so I'm having to deal with mouth sores - eating and talking are not as much fun as normal but otherwise I'm feeling good.  Looking forward to this round of chemo ending 8/29.

Eleanor's eyesight has improved but she is not totally satisfied with the results.  She was hoping she would not need glasses but she sees more clearly with them.

Hopefully, we can get a good rain so I can work on the yard during the next couple weeks - lime, plugging, seed, etc.

A day of golf with the 'big' boys!

The highlight of the week so far has been playing golf with my two 6-year old grandsons, Jackson and Isaiah.  I think they had fun too.  We played 9 holes at Oak Valley just for fun - we didn't keep score so they couldn't beat me!  That also allowed me to adjust the rules as needed for pace of play and to avoid losing all our golf balls - we only lost 1 and that one was well hit into the water.  They are both big time golfers now. 

As for health, as illustrated, I'm doing well - playing golf 2-3 days a week and feeling good.  I'm in week 2 of another round of chemo and still drinking pepsi but will probably have to stop this weekend or soon after.  I'm looking forward to temperatures in the 80's rather than 90's for a few days at least.  Eleanor's eye is doing well, no problems, and eyesight seems to be improving steadily.

News worth waiting for!

All good news!  No lung cancer!

We finally had the dr. appt. today to get results of the biopsy.  Dr. Aklilu reported that the spot is kidney cancer which means we continue treatments as before.  Therefore, probably tomorrow, we'll start the next round of chemo.  It was great having 4 weeks off (especially while having the grandchildren here) but now back to business as usual - scans again after two rounds of 4 weeks of treatment with a 2-week break in between.

Waiting develops patience!

Some of you may have been wondering about the results of the biopsy I had last week.  I had told some that I would get the results at the Dr. appt. on monday.  Well, the Dr. appt. was rescheduled to Aug. 1.  But the doctor called to tell me about rescheduling and told me he would call Mon. or Tues. when he got the results and share with me.  He hasn't called and his nurse is unaware of his plan to call.  Therefore, I think we will get results on Mon. Aug. 1 at my 10:45 appt.

I'm fine with that.  I continue to have time off chemo which I'm enjoying!  There's always something to be thankful for.

Eleanor has her follow-up Dr. visit tomorrow.  Her vision is improving slowly - looking forward to hearing the doctor's report on her progress.

Thanks for continued prayers!

Praises!/Confined to home!

Eleanor and I have both completed our procedures for the day and are both confined to home for the remainder of the day.  She had a cataract removed from her left eye and seems to be doing well - so far her vision is still blurred as expected and she has these nice big shades she must wear when she goes out.  She was aware all during the process and even got play-by-play description.  She will have a checkup tomorrow.

I had a lung biopsy via a needle through the back with ct scan taking place throughout the process.  I was aware though out the process but thankfully did not get play-by-play.  They did share some info during like 'we're almost finished' which were appreciated.  The only discomfort was having to lay on my stomach with my head turned to the side without moving for approx. 40 min. - my neck hurt.  All was well once I was allowed to change positions and get up.  Overall, no biggie!
I hopefully get results on Mon.

We both plan to just relax the rest of the afternoon.

Good Report with ?

Today we got the results of last weeks scans.  Dr. Aklilu reported that the chemo continues to do its job - some spots had disappeared, others had gotten smaller or maintained as before - all this is good and means the drug is working well.  The question has to do with a spot on my lung which looks different.  Since he's not sure about it, they will be doing a biopsy some time next week and we will see the Dr. July 25 for the report and what we do next.  He thinks the possibilities are that the spot is lung cancer (different from other spots which are kidney cancer) or kidney cancer acting strangely.  Lung cancer could be treated with radiation and if it's kidney cancer probably no action would be necessary.  After either conclusion, we would then continue chemo treatments.

The good news with this (besides continued progress of course) is the fact that I will not be taking chemo until this little side trip is complete hopefully on 7/25.

No news is good news!

Today was scan day all day at Baptist Hospital.  All went well ... e x c e p t ... we did not get to see the doctor and results.  We had the doctor's last appointment of the day and he had a meeting at 4:00pm.  My MRI was scheduled for 2:30 which should have been plenty time to finish and get to doctor appt. by 3:45.

However, there was a delay with the MRI, (something about a backup due to an emergency) so they took us to another lab in the main hospital building.  They started my test after 3:15 making it after 4:00 when I got out and the doctor was not available.  Thankfully, we didn't go to the doctor's office expecting to see him - they called to tell Eleanor that the appt. was being rescheduled to Mon. @ 2:45.  Oh, well.  Good news will be even better after we wait a few days.  We don't always like or understand God's timing but we know He is in control so everything will be alright.

Results to follow here late Mon. afternoon.  Thanks for continued prayers!